Today (8 March) marks International Women’s Day (IWD). It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year the global theme is Embracing Equality.
The first IWD gathering took place in 1911 and was supported by over a million people.
Commenting on how far the asset servicing industry has come for womens’ roles and equality,
Keisha Bell, DTCC head of talent management and diversity, equity and inclusion at DTCC, says: “The financial services landscape should focus on nurturing and retaining female talent throughout their full careers. This will help make significant strides towards achieving gender equity in our field while ensuring diverse perspectives across organisations.
“The gender pay gap persists, and women continue to encounter roadblocks to career advancement. To bridge this divide and achieve gender parity, it will take a collective and sustained effort from individuals, companies and the industry as a whole. Progress is possible with continued industry efforts towards greater gender diversity, coupled with supportive policies and initiatives.”
Claire Bridel, COO at Liquidnet, says: "I think International Women's Day should serve as a reminder of the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women across the globe.
“While the financial industry has made significant progress towards diversity, there is still a long way to go. We need to continue to have honest conversations about the state of diversity in this industry, leaders must take ownership of this issue, regardless of gender and create an environment where women are more empowered.
“Having spent decades in this industry, I can confidently say that empowering and investing in women drives greater innovation, growth, and success.”
